The Boston Red Sox front office is facing backlash from fans as well as current and former players after the decision to fire World Series-winning manager Alex Cora and five coaches amid a disappointing 10-17 start to the season.
'It's like s***ting your pants and changing your shirt,' one anonymous former Red Sox player told WEEI's Rob Bradford, a local sports radio host.
Like that player, many fans blame the team's struggles on an ownership group and front-office regime that has overseen several controversial moves since Cora led Boston to a World Series title in 2018.
There was former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom's decision to trade outfielder Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers for an unremarkable return in 2020. Then last year, Bloom's successor Craig Breslow signed third baseman Alex Bregman in a deal that upset incumbent third baseman Rafael Devers, who was subsequently moved to San Francisco for another uninspiring return.
But when Bregman then opted out of his contract to sign a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, Red Sox nation began to blame Breslow and CEO Sam Kennedy as well as owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner. And those feelings only intensified as the Sox dropped 17 of their first 27 games of the season leading up to Saturday's house cleaning.
'Just no accountability on [Breslow's] part,' a former Red Sox player who remains in Major League Baseball told the Boston Globe's Gabrielle Starr. 'Fires everyone but his pitching coaches?!... He should fire himself.'
Two current players, shortstop Trevor Story and relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock, were visibly frustrated with the front office while talking to reporters in Baltimore's visiting clubhouse on Sunday.
'They spoke,' Story said after a team meeting with players, coaches, execs and ownership. 'There just have to be more conversations had. I wouldn't say it was satisfactory.' Story said the players would have their own meeting at some point.
As Whitlock revealed, Breslow spoke for roughly two minutes before interim manager Chad Tracy addressed the players for 'five or six' minutes. Meanwhile, Kennedy and Henry were on hand, but did not address the players, who were reportedly not given a chance to ask questions.
'Listen, they made it very clear that we get paid to play baseball and we just need to focus on playing baseball,' Whitlock said.
Story got a similar impression from the team's executives. 'If this shows us anything, it's that we're here to play baseball,' Story said, as quoted by MassLive.com. 'That's it. We don't make decisions. We don't have any input on that. We're here to play baseball and our job is to win games. I think that's the message. We have to find a way to win games.'
According to MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo, several players were visibly upset on Sunday, including catcher Carlos Narvaez and outfielder Jarren Duran, who reportedly dismissed approaching media in Baltimore.
Story blamed the mood in the locker room on the decision to fire Cora and his staff. 'It's just tough for the guys that were let go because they're some of the best coaches in the world and they care more than anybody,' Story said. 'Just felt like they didn't get a fair shot at it.'
Boston, which sits in last in the American League East, travels to Toronto after Sunday's matinee for the first of a three-game set.
Understandably, fans have been in a downward spiral since Saturday's decision, with several urging Henry to unload the club. 'What a terribly run franchise,' one remarked online. 'Fire Breslow, sell the f***ing team. F*** these clowns.'
'Kennedy is the problem. He certainly is no Larry Lucchino,' another critic added, referring to a deceased former executive who helped turn the franchise around in the early 2000s. 'They can fire all the CBOs and managers they want, but the issue is Kennedy and his philosophy.'
Kennedy told reporters the decision was Breslow's to make, while Breslow told reporters 'these changes were warranted.' What's more, Breslow also said the Red Sox still see themselves competing for a playoff spot in 2026.
